The British Columbia government has added 55 million dollars to a fund to help tourism businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Minister Melanie Mark says the additional cash follows recommendations of a task force report to immediately launch a $105-million fund to help the tourism sector. The relief fund more than doubles the $50 million for tourism announced in September by the government in its economic recovery plan. Mark says says the government will also provide $5 million to Indigenous Tourism B.C. to help administer relief grants to Indigenous tourism operations.Tourism task force chairwoman Tamara Vrooman says the relief fund provides a first step to positioning the industry for recovery in the COVID-19 era. Last summer, the Tourism Association of B.C. asked the government to provide $680 million to help the struggling sector.
